Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 27) — Kabayan Party-list Representative Harry Roque is the new Presidential Spokesperson.
READ: Roque as spokesperson hopes to advise Duterte on drug war
Roque replaces Ernesto Abella, President Rodrigo Duterte announced on Friday.
“Hindi na congressman, secretary na siya,” Duterte said.
“To make his entrance dramatic, he will be attending the first Cabinet meeting on Monday,” he added, referring to the next Cabinet meeting on November 6.
Duterte attended Roque’s birthday celebration in Davao City on Friday.
In a speech on October 22, Duterte endorsed Roque for the 2019 senatorial elections.
“He’s my Senator,” Duterte said in Bisaya during the 38th Masskara Festival in Bacolod City, with Roque in the audience.
“When I haven’t filed my candidacy, he was already campaigning. I will not forget Harry,” he added.
Roque’s role in Duterte’s presidential campaign in the 2016 election is not immediately known, but he has expressed support for Duterte’s war on drugs.
Roque, the House Deputy Minority Leader, was known as a human rights lawyer who represented victims of the 2009 Maguindanao massacre, the kin of Palawan-based environmental advocate and journalist Gerry Ortega who was gunned down in 2011, and the family of Filipino transgender Jennifer Laude, killed by a U.S. Marine in 2014, among others.
The tough-talking Roque replaces Abella, a former pastor and social entrepreneur.
Abella crossed paths with then Davao City Mayor Duterte when he was kidnapped by bandits in 1996. Abella was freed in 24 hours after Duterte sought the help of Moro National Liberation Front leaders.
It is not clear why Abella was replaced and if he will be given another post in government.
CNN Philippines’ Eimor Santos contributed to this report.
